Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced may have a shiny new coat of paint, but the underlying gameplay in this Pirate-themed adventure remains largely intact. This includes, of course, the beloved naval combat that helped the original game stand out as one of the best entries in the Assassin’s Creed franchise.

And as with the original game, it’s a good idea to be prepared when you’re setting out onto the high seas. There’s a lot of danger lurking out there, and not investing in the right upgrades can leave you at a disadvantage. So, with that being said, we’ve compiled a list of the best ship upgrades to focus on first in Black Flag Resynced.

Best Ship Upgrades To Buy In Black Flag Resynced

There are a ton of ship upgrades, all of which serve a worthwhile purpose. You’ll get free rein to upgrade these at your discretion around the time you reach Great Inagua and begin building out Edward’s little slice of paradise. Here’s the best upgrades to snag first.

Armored Hull

It doesn’t matter how good a shot you are, or how well you’ve learned to brace against incoming attacks, you’ll eventually take damage from the onslaught of attacks from enemy ships. As such, prioritize leveling Armored Hull to dramatically improve your ship’s overall health, letting you stay in the fight longer.

• Buy every upgrade for this as soon as you’re able to afford it.

Round and Heated Shot

The Round and Heated Shot upgrade will increase the total damage of your normal and Heated Shot cannon attacks. This is among the most important upgrades to invest in throughout the game to ensure your main source of consistent damage remains on par with the battles you’re engaging with.

• Buy every upgrade for this as soon as you’re able to unless you can upgrade Armored Hull instead.

Broadside Cannons

You’ll absolutely want to put some points in Broadside Cannons when possible, as this will increase the total number of shots you fire from your broadside cannons, which subsequently increases your overall damage as well.

• Upgrade this any time Armored Hull or Round and Heated Shot upgrades aren’t reasonably attainable.

Mortar

The Mortar is your long-range attack, allowing you to dish out huge damage to foes who are out of the range of your cannons. This means it serves as both a great opener before closing in on foes and an excellent way to deal damage to escaping ships.

• Purchase this ASAP, but then focus on other upgrades until you have some free cash and materials not otherwise accounted for.

Ram

While ranged attacks are your best bet in most scenarios, sometimes it can be hugely helpful to close the gap quickly while dealing some huge damage. That’s where the Ram comes in, giving you the option to slam into enemy ships. Quickly after, you can turn your ship and unload some point-blank attacks on the opposing ship’s hull, exposing spots to shoot with your swivel gun.

• Purchase this ASAP, but save its upgrades for much later in the game, as its long cooldown means that it won’t function as one of your main sources of damage or utility.

Swivel Gun

Speaking of the swivel gun, make sure you upgrade it occasionally. This gun lets you aim and shoot at exposed points on enemy ships, which can rack up damage fast while your cannons are reloading. It’s an invaluable tool that needs to be kept relatively in line with your other major damage sources.

• Upgrade this when possible, but prioritize Round and Heated Shot + Broadside Cannons.

Everything Else

Most folks will probably be fine not upgrading the Barrel Launcher or Front Cannons until you’re further into the game. However, it’s a good idea to grab Heavy Shot fairly early, as this close-range attack can be devastating when you’re directly beside an enemy ship. Otherwise, Crew Quarters and Mortar Storage can be helpful upgrades that won’t break the bank, so toss a few points in those when you can.

Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.

Systems

Released

July 9, 2026

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence / In-Game Purchases, Users Interact

Franchise

Assassin’s Creed

Number of Players

Single-player

Steam Deck Compatibility

Unknown